A tablespoon is three times the size of a teaspoon: 1 tablespoon (tbsp or T) equals 3 teaspoons (tsp or t). In US measure, a tablespoon holds 14.79 mL and a teaspoon 4.93 mL; nutrition labels round them to 15 mL and 5 mL. Recipes mean level measuring spoons, not the spoons you eat with.
Key facts
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 1/2 fluid ounce = 14.79 mL (NIST).
- 1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon = 4.93 mL (NIST).
- FDA labeling rules (21 CFR 101.9) round a tablespoon to 15 mL and a teaspoon to 5 mL.
- Common abbreviations: tablespoon = tbsp, Tbsp or T; teaspoon = tsp or t.
- 16 tablespoons = 1 cup; 48 teaspoons = 1 cup.
Tablespoon vs teaspoon: what's the difference?
The only difference is size: a tablespoon holds exactly 3 teaspoons. Both are standard US units of volume, and both are measured with dedicated measuring spoons. Kansas State University Research and Extension describes the basic set as 1/4, 1/2 and 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon, used for both dry and liquid ingredients in amounts under 1/4 cup.
| Teaspoon | Tablespoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviations | tsp, t | tbsp, Tbsp, tbs, T |
| In teaspoons | 1 | 3 |
| Fluid ounces | 1/6 fl oz | 1/2 fl oz |
| Exact US mL (NIST) | 4.93 mL | 14.79 mL |
| Nutrition label mL (FDA) | 5 mL | 15 mL |
| Per cup | 48 | 16 |
How much is a tablespoon?
A US tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, or half a fluid ounce, which is 14.79 milliliters. NIST lists the exact value as 14.78676 mL, and NIST Handbook 44 rounds the measuring tablespoon to 15 mL. Two tablespoons make a fluid ounce, and 16 make a cup. See mL in a tablespoon, tablespoons in an ounce and tablespoons in a cup.
How much is a teaspoon?
A US teaspoon is one-third of a tablespoon, or 4.93 milliliters (4.928922 mL exactly, per NIST). Handbook 44 rounds the measuring teaspoon to 5 mL. It takes 6 teaspoons to make a fluid ounce and 48 to make a cup. See mL in a teaspoon, teaspoons in a tablespoon and teaspoons in a cup.
Why do nutrition labels say 15 mL and 5 mL?
Because the FDA rounds them for labeling. Under 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii), a teaspoon means 5 mL, a tablespoon 15 mL, a fluid ounce 30 mL and a cup 240 mL on a Nutrition Facts label. The real US measures are a hair smaller (4.93 and 14.79 mL), a difference of about 1.4% that won't affect cooking. If a recipe gives milliliters, 5 mL and 15 mL measuring spoons are fine to use.
What are the abbreviations for tablespoon and teaspoon?
Tablespoon is abbreviated tbsp, Tbsp or a capital T; teaspoon is tsp or a lowercase t. Kansas State's extension guide lists Tbsp. or T. for tablespoon and tsp. or t. for teaspoon. You'll also see tbs and tbl for tablespoon in older or handwritten recipes.
The capital-versus-lowercase T is the one to watch. In a handwritten card, "1 T salt" means a tablespoon, three times as much as "1 t salt." If the handwriting is unclear, use the recipe's other amounts as a guide, or start with the smaller amount and taste.
| Abbreviation | Means |
|---|---|
| tsp, t | Teaspoon |
| tbsp, Tbsp, tbs, T | Tablespoon |
| fl oz | Fluid ounce (volume) |
| c, C | Cup |
| oz | Ounce (weight) |
| lb | Pound (weight); 16 oz |
The pound is abbreviated lb, as in NIST's tables; "lbs" is a common plural. A pound is 16 ounces, or 453.6 grams (see ounces in a pound).
Tablespoon and teaspoon conversion chart
Smaller spoon amounts, converted with the exact NIST teaspoon (4.93 mL):
| Amount | Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 1/4 | 1/12 | 1.2 mL |
| 1/2 tsp | 1/2 | 1/6 | 2.5 mL |
| 1 tsp | 1 | 1/3 | 4.9 mL |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 1 1/2 | 1/2 | 7.4 mL |
| 2 tsp | 2 | 2/3 | 9.9 mL |
| 1 tbsp | 3 | 1 | 14.8 mL |
| 2 tbsp (1 fl oz) | 6 | 2 | 29.6 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 12 | 4 | 59.1 mL |
The full chain up to gallons is in our liquid measurements chart.
How many grams is a tablespoon?
It depends on the ingredient, because a tablespoon measures volume. Using the figures in our cups-to-grams data, a tablespoon of water weighs about 14.8 g, butter 14.2 g, granulated sugar 12.5 g, table salt 18 g and honey 21 g, while all-purpose flour is only about 7.5 g. See grams in a tablespoon and grams in a teaspoon, or the ingredient pages such as table salt.
Level vs heaping: how to measure a spoonful
Unless a recipe says otherwise, a teaspoon or tablespoon means a level spoonful. For dry ingredients, fill the spoon to the rim and sweep off the excess with the flat edge of a knife or spatula, as Kansas State's extension guide describes. For liquids, fill the spoon to the brim over a separate bowl, not over your batter, so spills don't end up in the recipe.
- Level: the standard. Leveled to the rim, nothing mounded above it.
- Heaping or rounded: the ingredient is mounded above the rim. There's no standard amount, so a heaping teaspoon can vary a lot from one cook to the next. Treat it as "a bit more than level."
- Scant: slightly less than level.
Accuracy matters most for salt, baking soda, baking powder and yeast, where small amounts make a big difference; see baking soda vs baking powder.
Is a soup spoon a tablespoon?
No. The spoons in your silverware drawer (teaspoons, soup spoons, dessert spoons) are tableware, made in whatever shape and size the designer chose. They aren't calibrated, so a "teaspoon" from the drawer can hold noticeably more or less than a measuring teaspoon. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices notes that the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both discourage household spoons for liquid medicine because their sizes vary so widely; for medicine, use the dosing device that comes with it. In the kitchen, use a set of measuring spoons.
Recipes from other countries can be another trap. NIST's metric kitchen guidance notes that units such as teaspoons and cups can mean different things in different countries. If a recipe comes from outside the US, check its spoon and cup sizes before you start; our guide to US vs metric cups covers the cup differences.
Questions people ask
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Three. One US tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons, or 14.79 mL.
Is a tablespoon bigger than a teaspoon?
Yes. A tablespoon holds three times as much as a teaspoon.
Is a tablespoon 15 mL?
Close. The exact US tablespoon is 14.79 mL, and FDA nutrition labeling rounds it to 15 mL.
What does a capital T mean in a recipe?
A capital T means tablespoon. A lowercase t means teaspoon.
How much is half a tablespoon?
Half a tablespoon is 1 1/2 teaspoons, about 7.4 mL. More halving math is in our guide to how to halve a recipe.
Can I use a regular spoon instead of a measuring spoon?
Only as a rough guess. Tableware spoons vary in size, so use measuring spoons whenever the amount matters, especially for baking.
Sources
- NIST: Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9, factors for units listed by kind of quantity
- NIST: Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C, general tables of units of measurement
- eCFR: 21 CFR 101.9, nutrition labeling of food
- Kansas State University Research and Extension: Cooking basics, measuring tools and how to use them
- NIST: Metric kitchen, culinary measurement tips
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ConsumerMedSafety.org): Liquid medicines
